A. The Emirates ATP Rankings is known colloquially by fans as 'the world rankings'. For example, when Novak Djokovic is No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, he is said to be the No. 1 player in the world. Or a player who is No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Rankings is said to be a 'Top 10 player'.

The Emirates ATP Rankings is the ATP's historical objective merit-based method used for determining entry and seeding in all tournaments for both singles and doubles, except as modified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The Emirates ATP Rankings period is the immediate past 52 weeks, except for:
(i) The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which is dropped on the Monday following the last regular-season ATP event of the following year;
(ii) Futures Series Tournaments that are only entered into the System on the second Monday following the Tournament's week. Once entered, all Tournaments, except for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, remain in the System for 52 consecutive weeks.

A.
The year-end Emirates ATP Rankings is based on calculating, for each player, his total points from the four (4) Grand Slams, the eight (8) mandatory ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals of the ranking period, and his best six (6) results from all ATP World Tour 500, ATP World Tour 250, ATP Challenger Tour and Futures tournaments. For every Grand Slam or mandatory ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament for which a player is not in the main draw, and was not (and, in the case of a Grand Slam, would not have been, had he and all other players entered) a main draw direct acceptance on the original acceptance list, and never became a main draw direct acceptance, the number of his results from all other eligible tournaments in the ranking period, that count for his ranking, is increased by one (1). In weeks where there are not four (4) Grand Slams and eight (8) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in the ranking period, the number of a player’s best results from all eligible tournaments in the ranking period will be adjusted accordingly. Once a player is accepted in the main draw of one of these twelve (12) tournaments, as a direct acceptance, a qualifier, a special exempt or a lucky loser, or having accepted a wild card, his result in this tournament shall count for his ranking, whether or not he participates.

A. The Emirates ATP Rankings Race To London is an indicator of what the Emirates ATP Rankings will be on the Monday after the end of the regular season. Players finishing within the Top 8 of the Emirates ATP Rankings after the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Paris will qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, beginning 15 November. The Emirates ATP Rankings Race To London include points earned in 2015 plus points earned at the 2014 Davis Cup final and late-season 2014 Challengers and Futures played after the 2014 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Emirates ATP Rankings Race To London differs from the Emirates ATP Rankings, which at any given moment ranks players according to points earned during the immediate past 52 weeks.

A. The top seven players in the Emirates ATP Race To London on Monday, 9 November (the day after the final tournament of the regular season, the BNP Paribas Masters) qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. If there is one current-year Grand Slam champion positioned between eighth and 20th in the Race, he qualifies in eighth place. If there are two current-year Grand Slam champions positioned between eighth and 20th, the highest-ranked of those players becomes the eighth and final qualifier; the lower-ranked Grand Slam champion will serve as the alternate. If there are no current-year Grand Slam champions positioned between eighth and 20th, then the player in eighth place in the Race will claim the eighth and final berth.

Q. What if a player is injured and can't play in a Grand Slam or ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament?

A. If eligible to play in one of the Grand Slam or ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, a player must count the points from these tournaments, even if it is 'a zero pointer' because he missed the event. Just as in Formula One and numerous other sports, if a competitor misses a race or an event, he loses his chance to earn points. Players with direct acceptance who do not play an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament will be suspended from a subsequent ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, which will be the next highest points earned ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event within the next 12 months. If an injured player is on site within the first three days of a tournament to conduct promotional activities over a two-day period, a suspension will not be enforced but a 0-pointer will be counted on a player's ranking.

Q. What are the requirements and rules for player participation for an ATP World Tour 500 tournament?

A. Top 30 players (based on 2014 year-end Emirates ATP Rankings) must play a minimum of four 500 level tournaments during the calendar year, including at least one event following the US Open (Monte Carlo Masters 1000 event will count towards the minimum of four and all penalties apply):
-- A 0-pointer for each event less than four played.
-- A 0-pointer for withdrawing from any 500 tournament after the acceptance list is out.
-- A 0-pointer for not playing at least one event after the US Open.
-- A 0-pointer can be appealed by a player to the same tribunal formed to hear 1000 suspension appeals.
-- No suspensions or fines (including no withdrawal and late withdrawal fines).

A. Davis Cup points are awarded for World Group and World Group playoff ties only. The points accumulated in the four ties within the previous 52 weeks can be used as one of the player’s best of six (6) results.
If a particular Davis Cup round shows up twice within the 52-week window, the
best one of those two results will count towards the player’s Davis Cup result.
(This will come into play when a tie is played earlier in the year compared to the previous year and both ties fall within the 52-week window.)

A. A player may petition the Executive Chairman & President for an Entry Protection when he is physically injured and does not compete in any tennis event for a minimum period of six months. The written petition must be received within six months of his last tournament.

The Entry Protection shall be a position in the Emirates ATP Rankings, as determined by the player's average Emirates ATP Rankings position during the first three months of his injury. The Entry Protection shall be for entry into the main draw or qualifying competition or for special exempt consideration. The Entry Protection shall not be used for seeding purposes, Lucky Loser consideration or for entry into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The Entry Protection shall be in effect for either the first nine tournaments that the player competes in using the Entry Protection (excluding wild cards and entries as a Direct Acceptance with his current position in the Emirates ATP Rankings) or for the period up to nine months beginning with the first tennis event that the player competes in, whichever occurs first.

If a player is physically injured and does not compete in any tennis event for
a period of twelve (12) months or longer, the entry protection shall be in effect
for the first twelve (12) singles tournaments and the first twelve (12) doubles
tournaments that the player competes in using the entry protection (excluding
wild cards and entries as a direct acceptance with his current position in the
Emirates ATP Rankings) or for the period up to twelve (12) months beginning
with the first tennis event, including Special Events – Exhibitions, that the
player competes in, whichever occurs first.

A. The ATP Doubles Ranking is based on calculating, for each player, his total points from his best 18 results from all eligible tournaments, including the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (Doubles) played in the 52-week ranking period. For entry purposes there are no mandatory events, however, once a player is accepted in the main draw of one of these 12 tournaments, as a direct acceptance, a qualifier or a lucky loser or having accepted a wild card, his result in this tournament shall count for his ranking, whether or not he participates.

A. Each team is ranked according to its total points from its best 18 results from all eligible tournaments (Grand Slam, ATP World Tour, including the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals) played in the calendar year. Loser points for the rounds achieved are awarded to players in any tournament not completed. The ATP Doubles Team Rankings Race To London are used to determine the year-end World No. 1 team and which eight teams qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Q. What is the difference between Prize Money and Total Financial Commitment?

A. Prize Money is the onsite prize money awarded to players advancing within the tournament. Total Financial Commitment is the tournament’s investment in the event including ATP Sanction and Marketing Fees, Onsite Prize Money and Bonus Pool Contributions, where applicable.